Specific Requirements

Through this Master of Science program, students will be prepared for Ã¢â‚¬Å“real worldÃ¢â‚¬  scientific marine and environmental technologies and skills to foster the economic development of the unique and vital natural resources of the region serviced by Nicholls State University. The program will teach students to develop and apply the basic science and biotechnology of the twenty-first century to the needs of the regionÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s economically important resources, its industries, and its communities.

Requirements for admission and completion of the M.S. program are listed below. A thesis based on graduate research, a publication on the thesis research, and an oral comprehensive exam is required.

Curricular Tracks

The M.S. program in Marine and Environmental Biology has two curricular tracks:

1) Pre-Marine and Environmental Biology

Non-degree track baccalaureate graduates taking Marine and Environmental M.S. graduate courses to accumulate postgraduate hours, or students working toward admission into the M.S. degree track by the Departmental Admissions Committee.

2) Marine and Environmental Biology

M.S. degree track students accepted into the M.S. program by the Departmental Admissions Committee, but working toward M.S. course prerequisites and/or acceptance of a thesis research project by their major professor and Thesis Research Committee.

M.S. degree track students accepted into the program and working with their major professor and Thesis Research Committee toward the M.S. degree.

Minimum Admission Requirements

B.S. degree in a science curriculum

Minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale

Combined GRE of 1000 (verbal and quantitative)

Three letters of recommendation from professionals in the field

Interview with the Departmental M.S. Admissions Committee for acceptance into the M.S. in Marine and Environmental Biology track

Completion Requirements

Students must complete the 17 hours of core graduate courses and complete a minimum of 18 hours of graduate electives. No more than six hours of graduate electives may be from undergraduate/graduate 400* level courses.

Students must take at least one course with LUMCON.

Students must compose and submit a thesis based on graduate research. In addition, a manuscript based upon thesis research must be submitted for publication prior to graduation.

Students must pass an oral defense of the thesis.

No more than six hours of transfer credit can be applied to graduation, and transfer must be (1) credit in a course applicable to the graduate training and (2) approved by the Thesis Research Committee, Graduate Coordinator, and Department Head.

No more than 6 hours of C’s can be counted toward the degree and a minimum GPA of 3.0 must be maintained.

The graduate program must be completed in six years.

Other requirements will be in accordance with Graduate Studies as described in the Nicholls State University Catalog.